Having watched the pilot several months ago, the only thing I can recall is what I disliked about it. It had poor acting and overall felt quite dull. I enjoyed it in the most part, however, as it focused much more on the Khanate and the Chinese rather than Polo, giving him the role of the perspective for the viewer.
In this episode, we get a bit more action and a bit more time spent with Polo, something I didn't mind. We also got more time dealing with the familial rivals between the Chinese established last episode (plus a very R rated action sequence) along with those among the Khans. Kublai is still the most interesting character on the show, and I intently listen whenever he's on screen.
This episode also takes time to introduce us to some of the commoners Polo meets, including a tax collector and a peasant woman. I liked these as they helped to establish the world these characters are in and kept me engrossed.
Overall, I was entertained by this episode much more than the last. For those complaining about the dull pacing of this show and the poor acting, watch this episode along with the pilot before deciding on judging Marco Polo. You might thank me later.